Shloka 24
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
नाभिहृदादिह सतोऽम्भसि यस्य पुंसो विज्ञानशक्तिरहमासमनन्तशक्ते: । रूपं विचित्रमिदमस्य विवृण्वतो मे मा रीरिषीष्ट निगमस्य गिरां विसर्ग: ॥ २४ ॥
nābhi-hradād iha sato ’mbhasi yasya puṁso vijñāna-śaktir aham āsam ananta-śakteḥ rūpaṁ vicitram idam asya vivṛṇvato me mā rīriṣīṣṭa nigamasya girāṁ visargaḥ
ਉਸ ਅਨੰਤ-ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਅਣਗਿਣਤ ਹਨ। ਪ੍ਰਲਯ ਦੇ ਜਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਯਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਭੀ-ਹ੍ਰਦ ਤੋਂ, ਜਿੱਥੇ ਕਮਲ ਉੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਵਿਜ਼੍ਞਾਨ-ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਨਮਿਆ। ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਉਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਿਭਿੰਨ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ-ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਭੌਤਿਕ ਕਿਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੇਦ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਧੁਨੀ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਭਟਕ ਨਾ ਜਾਵਾਂ—ਇਹੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹੈ।
Every person engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord in this material world is prone to so many material activities, and if one is not strong enough to protect himself against the onslaught of material affection, he may be diverted from the spiritual energy. In the material creation Brahmā has to create all kinds of living entities with bodies suitable to their material conditions. Brahmā wants to be protected by the Lord because he has to contact many, many vicious living entities. An ordinary brāhmaṇa may fall from the brahma-tejas, or the power of brahminical excellence, due to his association with many fallen, conditioned souls. Brahmā, as the supermost brāhmaṇa, is afraid of such a falldown, and therefore he prays to the Lord for protection. This is a warning for one and all in the spiritual advancement of life. Unless one is sufficiently protected by the Lord, he may fall down from his spiritual position; therefore one has to pray constantly to the Lord for protection and the blessing to carry out one’s duty. Lord Caitanya also entrusted His missionary work to His devotees and assured them of His protection against the onslaught of material affection. The path of spiritual life is stated in the Vedas to be like the edge of a sharpened razor. A little inattentiveness may at once create havoc and bloodshed, but one who is a completely surrendered soul, always seeking protection from the Lord in the discharge of his entrusted duties, has no fear of falling into material contamination.
FAQs
It states that Brahmā arose on the waters from the lotus stemming from the Lord’s navel, identifying his existence as empowered by the Supreme Person’s knowledge potency.
Because he is attempting to describe the Lord’s wondrous form and wants his speech—rooted in Vedic revelation—to remain clear, uninterrupted, and faithful to the truth of the Lord.
Before studying or speaking about God, one can pray for purity and clarity of understanding, recognizing that true insight is empowered by the Divine rather than by ego or mere intellect.